Octave-coupler



(No Model.)

' J. A. WARREN.

OGTAVE COUPLER.

No. 372,727. Patented Nov. 8, 188.7;

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fabric, sheet metal, or wire, having a non-con- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOSEPH A. \VARREN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO JOHN A. SMITH, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

OCTAVE-COUPLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,727, dated November 8, 1887.

Application filed July 8, 1857. Serial No. 243,761.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOSEPH A. Wannnma citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OctaveOouplers; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention in octave-couplers for musical instruments relates more especially to the means employed for attaching the coupling wires or rods to the arm or supporting-bar of an organ or musical instrument, simplifying and cheapening the construction of such parts, attaining a more durable coupler, and affording greater economy in the manufacture of such instruments.

The important feature ofthis invention consists in the attaching of the series of coupling levers or wires to the supporting-bar by means of strands of flexible material-such as textile ducting or cloth covering, (preferably copper Wire,)as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The special features of my invention will be pointed out particularly in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure l is a top plan of a portion of a supportingbar having a se-" ries of coupling levers or rods attached thereto according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a view of Fig. l inverted. Fig. 3 is an isometrical View, having like parts broken away, showing manner of weaving the flexible strands through the supportingbar and about the couplingwires B. Fig. 4 is a detail partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line :0 0c in said view. Fig. 6 is a detail in cross-section of the covered flexible strand.

As indicated by letters in the accompanying drawings, A represents the supporting bar or arm. Crossing the same diagonallyis aseries of coupling wires or rods, B.

O O are strips of felt or textile fabric which (No mod el.)

pass along the edges on the upper face of the supportingbar A, and are glued or cemented to said supporting -bar, forming cushion or fiexiblebeariugsforthecoupling-wires,slightly elevating them over the supporting-bar. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)

D shows a series of transverse slots or recesses, which are cut or formed at equal distances from each other across the edges of the supporting-bar A.

F is a longitudinal recess or channel,formed in the vertical edges of said supportingbar, extending the full length thereof, and is oi'the same depth as the transverse slots D, as shown in Fig. 3. h is a like longitudinal recess,which is formed in the under face of the supportingbar, crossing the rear ends of the transverse slots D, and extends the entire length of said supporting-bar. (See Fig. 3.)

Erepresents a strand of cloth-covered cop per wire, which passes through a recess or slot, D, of the supporting-bar A, around and within the angle of a coupling-wire, as shown at a, (see Fig. 3,) then back through said slot I), and extends along the under face of the supporting-bar lying in the channel h. It is then passed through the next slot or recess D, and around the next coupling-wire in a like manner, and so on throughout the series of slots, until a sufficient number of coupling-wires have been secured to the supporting-bar. The ends of the binding-wire E are secured in the channel h on the under face of the supportingbar by means of screws or tacks e, as shown in Fig. 2.

After the wire E has been woven through the slots and recesses of the supporting-bar, and a sufficient number of coupling-wires have been pivotally attached thereby, I insert in the longitudinal recess F, for the purpose of more securely confining said wires, the strip H, which is adapted to fit snugly within said channel, the back edge of said strip meeting the binding-wire E, and is secured in such position by means of cement or glue, thus firmly confining said wires within the slots and forming loops or journal-bearings a for the coupling-wires, whereby said wires are securely held in position and allowed to rotate bylthe action of the keys of the instrument.

Fig. 6 represents the binding-wire in crosssection, in which Z shows the main wire, and E the cloth covering, The object in providing the wire Z with a cloth or flexible covering is to make it a non-conductor of sound, preventing a rattling of the coupling-wires as they are rotated; and the strips of fabric or felt O are for a like purpose, and form flexible bearings for said coupling-wires, slightly elevating said coupling-wires over the supporting-bar.

It will be observed, from the foregoing construction, that as the binding-wires encircle the coupling-levers within the angle thereof, it will prevent said coupling-levers from shifting endwise on the supportingbar, thus firmly holding them in position, but allowing said coupling wires to rotate in operating the valves of the instrument by the action of the keys.

The foregoing manner of constructing octavecouplers is advantageous, for the reason that very little hand-work is required, that being simply the weaving of the binding-wires and inserting the strip of wood in the channel F. The remainder of the work may be readily and cheaply accomplished by machinery, thus attaining greater economy in their manufacture and providing a more desirable and eli icient coupler.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an octave coupler, the combination of the supporting-arm, the series of couplingwires, and the flexible strands passing through said supporting-arm and around said coupling wires, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a device for the purposes specified, the supporting-arm having one or more couplingwires attached thereto by means of a flexible binding-wire engaging with the supportingarm and passing about the coupling-wires, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. I11 combination with the supporting-arm, the series of coupling-wires attached thereto at their angles by means of a strand of flexible material passing through the transverse channels D and back, forming the loop a about each couplingwire, as and for the purposes specified.

4. In combination with the supporting-arm having the series of transverse channelsD and longitudinal channel F in the edge thereof, the series of coupling-wires, the binding agent passing and returning through each opening D, forming a loop, a, overeaeh coupling-wire, and the strip H, as and for the purposes specifled.

5. In an octavecoupler, the combination of the supporting'arm having the longitudinal channels F k and series of transverse channels D, the series of coupling-wires, the clothcovered wire passing through the channels it D, forming the loop a about the coupling-wires, and strip H, secured in the channel F against the binding-wire, as and for thepurposes specified.

6. In combination with the supporting-arm, the strips of fabric 0 G, the series of transverse channels D and longitudinal channel Fin the edge thereof, the series of coupling-wires, the binding agent passing and returning through each opening D, forming aloop, a, around each coupling-wire, and the strip H, secured in the channel F, as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. IVARREN.

Witnesses:

R. B. WHEELER, B. F. W EELER. 

